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McNickle, Chris

March 5, 2018 by admin

WORK TITLE: Bloomberg
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Bronx
STATE: NY
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mcnickle-7a407837/ * https://www.historians.org/x18780

RESEARCHER NOTES:

LC control no.: n 92086127
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n92086127
HEADING: McNickle, Chris
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670 __ |a His Power of the mayor, 2012: |b CIP galley t.p. (Christopher J. McNickle) CIP application data (global head of Institutional Business at Fidelity Worldwide Investment in London. Earned doctorate in U.S. history from Univ of Chicago)
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PERSONAL

Male.

EDUCATION:

University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1979; University of Chicago, Ph.D.

ADDRESS

  • Home - Bronx, NY.

CAREER

City of New York, former pension fund consultant to Human Resources Administration; Prudential Retirement Services, former senior vice president; J.P. Morgan Investment Management, former leader of business strategy department; Greenwich Associates, Stamford, CT, managing director, 2002-11; Fidelity Worldwide Investments, London, England, global head of institutional business, 2011-13; retired, 2013. Chartered financial analyst; guest on business television programs.

MEMBER:

American Historical Association, New York Society of Security Analysts.

WRITINGS

  • To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Politics in the City, Columbia University Press (New York, NY), 1993
  • (Under name Christopher J. McNickle) The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins, 1990-1993, Transaction Publishers (New Brunswick, NJ), 2013
  • Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition, Skyhorse Publishing (New York, NY), 2017

Contributor to periodicals, including Financial Times.

SIDELIGHTS

Chris McNickle describes himself as a retired institutional investment management professional. He is a chartered financial analyst and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. McNickle’s educational background includes a degree in economics and international relations as well as a doctorate in history. He became the treasurer of the American Historical Association in 2015. McNickle worked for giants of the financial services industry: Fidelity International, Greenwich Associates, J.P. Morgan, and Prudential, but he also worked as a pension fund consultant for the Human Resources Administration of the city of New York. His work gave him ample opportunity to observe the administrative and political power brokers responsible for running the largest city in the United States: the mayors.

To Be Mayor of New York

McNickle’s first book grew out of his doctoral dissertation. To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Succession in the City is an overview, albeit encyclopedic in scope, of more than 100 years of municipal leadership. The city of New York has undergone many changes since 1886, when the Statue of Liberty first welcomed the tired, the poor, the huddled masses who flooded New York Harbor with dreams of freedom. They came in waves: Irish, Italian, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, black, and they shaped the political complexion of the city. Despite their differences, these newcomers shared similar concerns. Like the established, majority white population, they wanted jobs, affordable housing, educational opportunity, public safety, and other city services. How did these new voters choose their mayor? They looked for social, ethnic, and religious connections. How would a prospective mayor develop a campaign platform? Throughout McNickle’s historical perspective the successful candidates favored style over substance. They presented the image that matched the vision of the greatest number of potential voters. Therefore, as Sam Roberts explained in his New York Times book review, “Mayoral campaigns are a continuum punctuated by periodical pauses for governing.”

McNickle discusses a chronological series of New York mayors within an ethnic context. The alliance of black, Hispanic, and Jewish voters for John Lindsay in 1965 gave way to the coalition of middle-class Catholic and Jewish supporters of Ed Koch in 1977. Twenty years later, the city’s first black mayor, David Dinkins, garnered the support of minorities. McNickle attributes the success of these alliances to the relative dearth of divisive campaign issues, according to a Publishers Weekly contributor. Roberts called To Be Mayor of New York “an engaging history” enlivened to some extent by “revealing anecdotes gleaned from the author’s own interviews.”

The Power of the Mayor

McNickle’s next book focused on a single mayor. The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins, 1990-1993 is the story of New York’s first African-American mayor. According to McNickle, Dinkins offers the example of a mayor whose hegemony was cut short by a failed image that overshadowed a term of substantial achievement. Dinkins came into office when the city was plagued by rising crime rates, increasing homelessness, police profiling, and economic stress. All of these factors weighed heavily upon the black and Latino communities in 1989, and the time was ripe for the election of a person of color.

Dinkins scored major accomplishments during his four-year term. He balanced four annual budgets in a row, averted a state takeover of the city’s beleaguered finances, expanded the police force, reduced the crime rate, improved access to affordable housing for the poor, and even tackled the abysmal condition of the public school system. None of these achievements would earn him a second term in office.

McNickle attributes the failure to the convergence of two forces: image and luck. Nick Juravich explained in Dissent: “Dinkins was a poor manager of his public image and an ineffective decision-maker” in situations that called for urgency and positive media coverage. He was also, according to Jerald Podair’s review at the Gotham Center for New York History Website, “an extraordinarily unlucky leader.” Dinkins came very close to winning reelection. He lost, due in part to a series of small defections from within the disparate white community that he had struggled to assimilate into a united front in the fight for equality. “Dinkins sought a center that could not hold,” Podair summarized.

“McNickle’s account … is at its best when it takes on the intersection of popular perception and governance,” Juravich commented. Podair called The Power of the Mayor a “deeply researched, perceptive, and fair-minded study … as detailed and balanced as we are likely to get from any biographer.” A commentator at the Midwest Book Review deemed it “informed, informative, insightful, detailed, and superbly written.”

A Billionaire's Ambition

In 2001 Michael Bloomberg became the first billionaire to win the New York City mayoral election. He walked into the office just months after the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11 and served for twelve turbulent years before being replaced by Bill de Blasio. McNickle describes those years in Bloomberg: A Billionaire’s Ambition.

Bloomberg did not seek office for the money; in fact, he reportedly spent $74 million to win the seat and accepted only a token $1 salary per annum. He was not aligned with political party agendas; the longtime Democrat registered as a Republican in order to win the first election and as an Independent after winning the second. Bloomberg’s goal was to transform a stagnant city into his personal vision for a dynamic future. He inherited numerous problems and left new ones for his successor, but Bloomberg changed the face of his hometown in several ways that outlasted his term of office.

McNickle summarizes Bloomberg’s rise from a middle-class background to the economic stratosphere. His focus is the mayor’s far-reaching political agenda and his indefatigable self-confidence. McNickle divides the volume topically into chapters on Bloomberg’s contributions to safety, education, and health, for example. He ends each chapter with his own opinion of “what worked, what didn’t and what mattered most,” according to an article by David Leonhardt in the New York Times Book Review.

The book ends with a chapter on Bloomberg’s failures and achievements and a summary discussion of his legacy. Bloomberg rebuilt the Twin Towers and revitalized the city and waterfront. He spearheaded health initiatives against smoking and obesity, but not every policy was deemed a complete success. Bloomberg reduced crime, a victory countered by his support of the controversial “stop and frisk” practice of the New York Police Department. He improved residential neighborhoods, but the gentrification process displaced many low-income residents and may have contributed to increases in the homeless population. Overall, however, Leonhardt reported that McNickle paints Bloomberg as “a remarkably successful mayor.”

“McNickle covers a lot of ground capably,” observed a Kirkus Reviews contributor, but the biography is “probably best suited to those inclined to be well-disposed toward Bloomberg.” Library Journal contributor Michael Rodriguez concluded: “The market remains ripe for a more critical biography.” While Leonhardt acknowledged that Bloomberg “lacks the panache and fresh detail of some political histories,” he concluded that McNickle “has done something valuable.”

BIOCRIT

PERIODICALS

  • Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2017, review of Bloomberg: A Billionaire’s Ambition.

  • Library Journal, August 1, 2017, Michael Rodriguez, review of Bloomberg, p. 101.

  • New York Times, April 18, 1993, Sam Roberts, review of To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Succession in the City.

  • New York Times Book Review, September 17, 2017, David Leonhardt, review of Bloomberg, p. BR17.

  • Publishers Weekly, February 22, 1993, review of To Be Mayor of New York, p. 78; June 12, 2017, review of Bloomberg, p. 51.

ONLINE

  • American Historical Association Website, https://www.historians.org/ (April 6, 2018), author profile.

  • Dissent Magazine Online, https://www.dissentmagazine.org/ (May 2, 2013), Nick Juravich, review of The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins, 1990-1993.

  • Gotham Center for New York History Website, https://www.gothamcenter.org/ (February 18, 2016), Jerald Podair, review of The Power of the Mayor.

  • Midwest Book Review, http://www.midwestbookreview.com (January 1, 2013), review of The Power of the Mayor.

  • New York Times Online, https://www.nytimes.com/ (April 18, 1993), Sam Roberts, review of To Be Mayor of New York; (November 30, 2012), Sam Roberts, review of The Power of the Mayor; (September 13, 2017 ), David Leonhardt, review of Bloomberg.

  • To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Politics in the City Columbia University Press (New York, NY), 1993
  • The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins, 1990-1993 Transaction Publishers (New Brunswick, NJ), 2013
  • Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition Skyhorse Publishing (New York, NY), 2017
1. Bloomberg : a billionaire's ambition LCCN 2017040613 Type of material Book Personal name McNickle, Chris, author. Main title Bloomberg : a billionaire's ambition / Chris McNickle ; foreword by Kenneth T. Jackson. Published/Produced New York, NY : Skyhorse Publishing, 2017. Projected pub date 1709 Description pages cm ISBN 9781510722576 Item not available at the Library. Why not? 2. The power of the mayor : David Dinkins, 1990-1993 LCCN 2012014738 Type of material Book Personal name McNickle, Chris. Main title The power of the mayor : David Dinkins, 1990-1993 / Christopher McNickle. Published/Created New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction Publishers, c2013. Description xviii, 388 p. ; 24 cm. ISBN 9781412849593 CALL NUMBER F128.57.D56 M36 2013 Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms CALL NUMBER F128.57.D56 M36 2013 Copy 2 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms 3. To be mayor of New York : ethnic politics in the city LCCN 92032583 Type of material Book Personal name McNickle, Chris. Main title To be mayor of New York : ethnic politics in the city / Chris McNickle. Published/Created New York : Columbia University Press, c1993. Description xiv, 403 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. ISBN 0231076363 0231076371 (p. 4 of cover) CALL NUMBER F128.5 .M39 1992 Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms CALL NUMBER F128.5 .M39 1992 FT MEADE Copy 2 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE
  • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mcnickle-7a407837/

    Chris McNickle

    Institutional Investment Management Professional
    Fidelity International University of Pennsylvania
    Greater New York City Area 122 122 connections
    InMail Send an InMail to Chris McNickle More actions
    Retired financial service executive who serves as Treasurer of the American Historical Association. Author of books about New York City politics.

    Experience
    Fidelity International
    Global Head of Institutional Investments
    Company NameFidelity International
    Dates EmployedJun 2011 – Dec 2013 Employment Duration2 yrs 7 mos
    Greenwich Associates
    Managing Director
    Company NameGreenwich Associates
    Dates EmployedApr 2002 – Mar 2011 Employment Duration9 yrs
    Education
    University of Pennsylvania
    University of Pennsylvania
    Degree NameBA Field Of StudyEconomics and International Relations
    Dates attended or expected graduation 1975 – 1979

    Magna Cum Laude

    University of Chicago
    University of Chicago
    Degree NamePhD Field Of StudyAmerican History (United States) Activities and Societies: Author of "Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition," and "To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Politics in the City" and "The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins 1990-1993."
    Volunteer Experience
    American Historical Association
    Treasurer
    Company NameAmerican Historical Association
    Dates volunteered2015 – Present Volunteer duration3 yrs
    Cause Education

  • American Historical Association - https://www.historians.org/x18780

    Chris McNickle
    Treasurer

    Chris McNickle is treasurer of the American Historical Association. He is a member of the finance committee and chairman of the Investment Subcommittee responsible for managing the AHA Endowment.

    He has been global head of institutional business for Fidelity International and managing director and head of the global investment management practice of Greenwich Associates serving on the Global Operating Committees of both firms. In previous roles he led the business strategy department at JP Morgan Investment Management and was a senior vice president at Prudential Retirement Services. He has over 20 years’ experience in the asset management industry.

    Chris graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in economics and international relations, and he holds a PhD in United States history from the University of Chicago. He is author of To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Politics in the City, The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins 1990-1993 and the forthcoming Bloomberg: A Billionaire’s Ambition, as well as many articles on New York City politics. He has also published commentary on investment topics in the Financial Times, P&I, and other industry publications and has appeared on Bloomberg News, CNBC, and other business television programs. He holds the chartered financial analyst designation and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.

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Print Marked Items
McNickle , Chris: BLOOMBERG
Kirkus Reviews.
(July 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
McNickle , Chris BLOOMBERG Skyhorse Publishing (Adult Nonfiction) $24.99 9, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5107-
2257-6
A biography of three-term New York mayor Michael Bloomberg (b. 1942).There was a time, early on in
Bloomberg's bid for the mayoralty of New York, that someone leaked a gag gift given to him by his staff, a
30-page compendium of foulmouthed, cynical sayings--"politically incorrect does not begin to describe
them," writes McNickle, a former executive in global investment firms and treasurer of the American
Historical Association. Consternation ensued, as political opponents lodged charges of racism, sexism, and
classism in a race that got ever more heated--and, as the author writes, ever costlier, with Bloomberg, a
media and real estate billionaire, spending $74 million to his Democratic opponent's $16.6 million. The bigticket
aspect of the narrative is a constant, for Bloomberg had endless resources and was committed to
converting the city from "an unintended monument to time-gone-by into a place where the future could
happen." In the course of that transformation, McNickle writes, large portions of the city became
unaffordable, "one of the root causes of the long-standing homeless crisis." The author credits Bloomberg
for some innovations in government operations but, in some of the sharpest critiques of the book, also notes
that the current mayor, Bill de Blasio inherited a fantastic mess in terms of public housing and anti-poverty
programs. Bloomberg also was slow to support the living wage, saying, "the last time we really had a big
managed economy was the USSR and that didn't work out so well." Unafraid to use numbers or evoke fiscal
policy, <>, arguing that Bloomberg's preference was always for
market solutions to social problems, placing him as an economic and social centrist in a time of increasingly
fringe-driven politics. A sturdy biography; though not uncritical, <> and his years in office.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"McNickle , Chris: BLOOMBERG." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498344966/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f04f1058.
Accessed 25 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A498344966
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Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition
Publishers Weekly.
264.24 (June 12, 2017): p51+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition
Chris McNickle. Skyhorse, $27.99 (448p) ISBN 978-1-5107-2257-6
McNickle (The Power of the Mayor: David Dinkins: 1990-1993), writes a thorough account of Michael
Bloomberg's 12 years as mayor. The author avoids the personal, briefly describing his subject's middleclass
upbringing and meteoric business career, and focuses instead on Bloomberg's many political achievements,
with an occasional look at his failures. Bloomberg is quoted describing himself as having "unbridled
enthusiasm and a belief that anything is possible." He pursued an ambitious agenda, taking on the problems
of the country's largest city with the certainty that he could solve them. McNickle praises Bloomberg but
can be critical as well. He cites the mayor's major achievements as averting economic disaster, keeping the
city safe after 9/11, rebuilding the Twin Towers district, and using his business expertise to improve the
city's finances. However, McNickle argues, Bloomberg was less successful with schools, affordable housing
and transportation, and alleviating income inequality. He is particularly critical of the huge amounts
Bloomberg spent on his campaigns and how he overrode existing law to run for a third term. McNickle has
created a comprehensive look at Bloomberg's unique ability to take on New York City's myriad problems.
(Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition." Publishers Weekly, 12 June 2017, p. 51+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A495720696/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=882354bb.
Accessed 25 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A495720696
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To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic
Succession in New York City
Publishers Weekly.
240.8 (Feb. 22, 1993): p78.
COPYRIGHT 1993 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
TO BE MAYOR OF NEW YORK:
Etlmie Succession in New York City Chris McNickle. Columbia Univ., $29.95 (416p) ISBN 0-231-07636-3
This densely detailed account of the New York mayoralty moves chronologically from 1881 to 1989,
focusing on the ethnic role in elections, not the governance of the city. McNickle, a pension fund consultant
who has worked for the New York City Human Resources Administration, describes how shifting alliances
of Irish, Jewish and Italian New Yorkers dominated the city's politics until the late '50s. As the political
machine crumbled, blacks and Puerto Ricans added new elements to the mix. While John Lindsay managed
to build a liberal coalition of blacks, Hispanics and Jews in 1969, it was shattered by rising black-Jewish
conflict. A new middle-class Catholic-Jewish coalition elected Abraham Beame and Edward Koch in the
1970s. McNickle cites the support of minorities, especially Hispanics, in the 1989 election of David
Dinkins, the city's first black mayor. Only in a final chapter does McNickle offer analytical reflection; in it
he suggests, arguably, that the absence of campaign issues helps explain the strength of ethnic voting
patterns. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Succession in New York City." Publishers Weekly, 22 Feb. 1993, p. 78.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A13545413/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=58556e28. Accessed 25 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A13545413
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Social sciences
Library Journal.
142.13 (Aug. 1, 2017): p101+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
BIOGRAPHY
Eger, Edith Eva. The Choice: Embrace the Possible. Scribner. Sept. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9781501130786.
$26; ebk. ISBN 9781501130816. BIOG
Clinical psychologist Eger (b. 1927) presents a searing firsthand account of surviving the Holocaust in this
heartfelt memoir of trauma, resilience, and hope. At age 16, Eger and her family were sent from their home
in Kosice, Hungary, to Auschwitz, where her parents died in the gas chamber. Eger and her sister barely
survived a brutal period of confinement, forced marches, and near starvation in Auschwitz and other
concentration camps before U.S. troops liberated their camp in 1945. The author eloquently examines the
ongoing process of personal growth and recovery as she later becomes a wife, mother, and psychologist.
She provides useful guidance on healing and dealing with adversity based on her own experiences, as well
as compelling examples from her psychology practice focused on treating PTSD. Offering a gripping
survival story and hard-won wisdom for facing the painful impact of trauma on the human psyche, this
valuable work bears witness to the strength of the human spirit to overcome unfathomable evil. VERDICT
Best-suited to readers seeking inspiration in difficult times and those interested in the Holocaust, PTSD,
psychology, or coping with trauma. [See Prepub Alert, 4/3/17.]--Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib.,
Newport, Rl ebk. ISBN 9780802189158. MEMOIR
Powerful and troubling, cookbook author LeFavour's (Fish) memoir of temporary insanity and eventual
redemption is a voyeuristic portrayal of a young woman's descent into a state of self-destruction that
eventually culminates in a stint in a mental institution. Bulimia, self-mutilation, and transference are central
factors in the author's story; the detail in which the pleasure /pain of burning is described reveals much
about the writer's mental state and serves as a harrowing, realistic representation of the compulsion to selfharm.
The narrative often reads as a stream-of-consciousness, in which a collection of thoughts, anxiety,
and mental lists add an extra layer of truth to the representation of personality disorder and the stages that
mark the progress of a mental breakdown. At times narcissistic, LaFavour's voice can be exasperating. Her
privilege is evident, and her story may not resonate with all readers. Moreover, the descriptions of self-harm
may be triggers for some audiences. VERDICT Combining medical records with a deeply personal
narrative, this unique exploration of mental health and therapy deserves a place among memoirs such as
Susanna Kay's Girl, Interrupted, and Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation.--Gricel Dominguez, Florida
International Univ. Lib.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
McNickle, Chris. Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition. Skyhorse. Sept. 2017.460p. illus. notes, bibliog.
ISBN 9781510722576. $27.99. BIOG
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Billionaire Michael Bloomberg (b. 1942) served as New York City's mayor from 2002 to 2013, first as a
Republican and eventually as an Independent. During three terms in office, he presided over economic
growth and falling crime but also provoked controversy for embracing the "stop-and-frisk" police tactic,
widely condemned as racist and ultimately ruled unconstitutional. Ruling a business empire that includes
Bloomberg.com, the politician was the first New York billionaire to win major elected office. Surprisingly,
only two book-length biographies of the mayor existed before now: Joyce Purnick's Mike Bloomberg, and
the autobiographical Bloomberg on Bloomberg. A former financial-sector executive with a PhD in history,
McNickle satisfies the need for a current biography. After recapping Bloomberg's business successes and
personal life, McNickle delves into Bloomberg's mayoralty, organizing his narrative by topic instead of time
line, emphasizing policy decisions and execution. <>
that grounds Bloomberg's leadership in the neoliberal vision arguably behind it. VERDICT A full, in-depth,
favorable study of Bloomberg's mayoralty and impact on New York City that will appeal to readers who
appreciate politics and political biographies--or who anticipate the billionaire's future presidential
ambitions.-Michael Rodriguez, Univ. of Connecticut
Taylor, Stephen. Defiance: The Extraordinary Life of Lady Anne Barnard. Norton. Jul. 2017.400p. photos,
notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393248173. $28.95; ebk. ISBN 9780393248180. BIOG
Taylor (Storm and Conquest) has crafted an intricate and cozy biography of Lady Anne Barnard (1750-
1825) that illustrates the strength and vivacity that lit her from within. Barnard was an accomplished
Scottish woman of letters who was both of her time and beyond it. Born Lady Anne Lindsay, she had many
suitors and lovers but remained single until her 40s, vacillating often in her affections. In London, Barnard's
gift of social intercourse allowed her to count many of the most influential men of the times among her
circle, including the Prince Regent. It was considered a scandal when she married Andrew Barnard, a young
officer with no tide or wealth. She accompanied him to his post in South Africa, hiked mountains, reported
expertly on the state of the colony to her political friends, and, after Andrew's death, adopted a daughter he
had fathered by a slave. Infused with sections from her letters and an unpublished multivolume memoir, this
work brings Lady Anne's own voice to life. VERDICT Taylor's book will appeal to biography and history
lovers alike with its approachable style.-Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA
Wilson, Emily Herring. The Three Graces of Val-Kill: Eleanor Roosevelt, Marion Dickerman, and Nancy
Cook in the Place They Made Their Own. Univ. of North Carolina. Sept. 2017.232p. illus. notes, bibliog.
ISBN 9781469635835. $25; ebk. ISBN 9781469635842. BIOG
Wilson (No One Cardens Alone) provides a succinct, inspirational, and intimate look at the friendship
former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt shared with two free-spirited women in the home they created together
two miles east of the "Big House" in Hyde Park, NY. Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook were Democratic
fieldworkers and lifelong partners who worked with Eleanor on a variety of projects, including the
Todhunter School on New York's East Side and Val-Kill Industries, a furniture factory that provided jobs to
rural farmers. Included are details about the home's financing, construction, and furnishing, and details of
the role that President Franklin D. Roosevelt played in its inception. Based on archival research and
interviews, Wilson's narrative describes the role that female friendships played throughout Eleanor's life,
specifically during the 1920s. The author skillfully interweaves the story of Val-Kill with larger themes in
her subject's life, such as Eleanor's troubled marriage, children's relationships, and personal and political
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friendships. VERDICT For general readers, especially those interested in feminist biography. Those curious
about the history and landscape of the Hudson Valley will also appreciate this detailed view of the litde
cottage on Fall-Kill Creek and its environs.--Marie M. Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., NJ
COMMUNICATIONS
Shea, Gerald. The Language of Light: A History of Silent Voices. Yale.
Aug. 2017.288p. illus. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300215434. $26. COMM
In this thought-provoking and thorough history of the failures and successes associated with the education
of the Deaf, Shea (Song Without Words) writes an in-depth historical time line from the 16th-century "Age
of Darkness" to the present. His primary focus is the conflict between oralists, hearing educators who insist
on teaching oral speech, and advocates of sign language, his "language of light." Shea effectively argues
that sign language is speech and the natural language of the Deaf; a language that is seen rather than heard.
He further argures that depriving students of sign language stifles their ability to learn and communicate and
ultimately denies them of a human right. The author also traces this history of deaf education through both
teachers and important figures important on both sides of the conflict, including Auguste Bebian, Alexander
Graham Bell, Thomas Gallaudet, Helen Keller, and Noam Chomsky. This book provides fascinating
descriptions of the workings of the ear, the transmission of sound, and technological advances such as
cochlear implants. Extensive notes accompany each chapter. VERDICT A highly recommended and
important work that provides a convincing argument advocating change in society's attitudes toward the
Deaf.--Theresa Muraski, Univ. of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Lib.
EDUCATION
Flaum, Sander & Mechele Flaum. Boost Your Career: How To Make an Impact, Get Recognized, and Build
the Career You Want. Allworth: Skyhorse. Aug. 2017. 200p. notes, index. ISBN 9781621535690. $22.99.
CAREERS
Leadership consultant and speaker Sander Flaum (chair, Fordham Univ. Gabelli Graduate Sch. of Business
Administration Leadership Forum; Big Shoes: How Successjid Leaders Grow into New Roles) and his wife,
marketing consultant Mechele Flaum (coauthor, The 100-Mile Walk: A Father and Son on a Quest To Find
the Essence of Leadership), have crafted the manual for propelling your career forward with projects of
recognizable impact. They contend that working hard at your job is not enough in today's workplace; the
rules have changed. To work smarter and strategically, the Flaums suggest the following: understand your
current situation; learn to identify projects that are valued; garner support; implement impact projects; get
distance out of your successes; and stay self-aware, motivated, and ethical. Real-life examples from veteran
professionals, newly minted leaders in stretch roles, and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries illustrate the
Flaums' advice. Significant is the list of impact projects and their implementation. VERDICT Highly
recommended. This concise, well-researched, and insightful book is a must-read for students of business as
well as current industry professionals.--Jane Scott, Clark Lib., Univ. of Portland, OR
HISTORY
Dean, Josh. The Taking of K-129: How the CIA Used Howard Hughes To Steal a Russian Sub in the Most
Daring Covert Operation in History. Dutton. Sept. 2017.448p. illus. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN
9781101984437. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781101984444. HIST
In 1968, the Russian submarine K-129 disappeared in the Pacific Ocean northwest of Hawai'i. The Soviets
deployed a massive search but were unable to find the vessel. Using new underwater acoustic equipment,
the U.S. located the submarine and tried to do the impossible by raising it from three miles underneath the
ocean's surface to obtain the nuclear warheads and coding machine inside. Dean (The Life and Times of the
Stopwatch Gang) tells the story of the CIA's mission, the detailed operation required for raising a heavy
submarine intact from such an incredible depth, and how the agency collaborated with businessman Howard
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Hughes and his mining company. After being tasked with Project Azorian, CIA agent John Parangosky
spent six years engineering and problem-solving in secret. The stellar research Dean uses to tell this
captivating tale includes declassified primary documents, personal journals, and autobiographies.
VERDICT A Cold War espionage story that seems implausible yet is still true. Recommended for fans of
naval history, marine engineering, ocean mining, and spy stories. [See Prepub Alert, 3/27/17.]--Jason L.
Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, Wl
Engelstein, Laura. Russia in Flames: War, Revolution, Civil War, 1914-1921. Oxford Univ. Oct. 2017.
840p. ISBN 9780199794218. $39.95. HIST
At some point in their careers, almost all scholars of Russian and Soviet history write about the complex
period between the first Russian Revolution in 1905 and the final submission of the Basmachi insurrection
two decades later. Engelstein (history, Yale Univ; The Keys to Happiness) waited until her retirement to
tackle this task; as such, she succeeds in presenting a thorough history of these wars and revolutions in an
understandable and engaging manner. In this full, richly detailed study, the author effectively argues the
Bolsheviks were ultimately triumphant because they focused on power and were more willing to employ
violence against their adversaries, and one another, with horrific results. This volume will compete with
Jonathan Smele's The Russian Civil Wars, 1916-1926, and Richard Pipe's A Concise History of the Russian
Revolution for space on the shelf, but Engelstein's expertise in Russian cultural history offers new and
unique insights. VERDICT This comprehensive examination of the tragic, tumultuous, and violent period
marking the end of the Imperial Russian Empire and the beginning of the Soviet Union is recommended for
students and scholars of Russian and Soviet history, as well as anyone interested in social change.--Michael
McCarthy, Independent Scholar, Tampa
Fagan, Brian. Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization. Yale Univ. Sept. 2017. 368p. illus. maps, notes, index.
ISBN 9780300215342. $30. HIST
Fishing's role in the development of civilization has not received the kind of merit that history bestows upon
hunting and farming. Fagan (anthropology, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara; The Great Warming) aims to
change that, delving into the shallow-water opportunists of prehistory to the deep-sea trawlers of today. The
work begins in Africa, where our ancestors snatched catfish from shallow pools, then continues to describe
the rising global sea levels that followed the Ice Age through the classical, medieval, and modern eras.
Readers will discover a world history rich in fishing: from Scandinavian trappers to ancient Japanese fishers
to Chinese carp fishermen. Herring, cod, the Roman fish sauce garum, sturgeons, and shellfish are all
discussed. Historical ecological transformations, such as the end of the Ice Age, as well as contemporary
environmental concerns, including overfishing, are addressed, as are important human migrations, such as
the expansion of peoples from Asia to America. Fagan's style is academic yet accessible. VERDICT A
much-needed volume for serious students of world history. Highly recommended for readers interested in
archaeology, anthropology, ecology, and environmental science.--Jeffrey Meyer, Mt. Pleasant P.L., IA
Guardino, Peter. The Dead March: A History of the Mexican-American War. Harvard Univ. Aug.
2017.512p. illus. maps, notes, index. ISBN 9780674972346. $39.95. HIST
The U.S. war with Mexico (1846-48), an often overlooked part of American history, had a huge impact on
the development of both countries. Guardino (history, Indiana Univ.) presents the story of the war through
the eyes of common soldiers in Mexican and American armies, part of the recent trend in military history
studies by taking a social history approach. Through extensive research into Mexican and American
archives and using the diaries, letters, and recollections of soldiers at the front lines, he challenges the
common perception that the war was a U.S. victory because American soldiers were more loyal to their
country. By examining the motivations and viewpoints of fighters on both sides, Guardino presents a
balanced and deeper understanding of the war, challenging readers to determine why and how America
triumphed and the long-term ramifications for both countries. VERDICT This extremely well-researched
and highly readable book will appeal to those interested in military history and 19th-century American or
Mexican history.--Michael C. Miller, Austin P.L. & Austin History Ctr., TX
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* Hess, Earl J. The Battle of Peach Tree Creek: Hood's First Effort To Save Atlanta. Univ. of North
Carolina. Sept. 2017.344p. illus. maps, notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9781469634197. $37.50; ebk. ISBN
9781469634203. HIST
Hess (Braxton Bragg) analyzes and evaluates the Battle of Peach Tree Creek's central role in the broader
context of the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. The Federal forces were led by George H. Thomas's Army of the
Cumberland, and the Rebel Army of Tennessee was initially commanded by Joseph E. Johnston and his
unpopular successor John Bell Hood. The author insists that the Confederacy's ensuing defeat might have
been avoided had Confederate President Jefferson Davis not relieved Johnston at such a critical point, when
the Federals crossed the Chattahoochee River and began pressuring the city of Atlanta. Hess finds Hood to
be inept, arguing that a combination of poor leadership, superior Union countermeasures, among other
issues made the difference at Peach Tree Creek. The North continued to dominate until the final
Confederate defeat at Jonesboro led to Hood's abandonment of Atlanta in September 1864. Closing chapters
deal with the disengagement of Federal and Confederate forces, treatment of the wounded, and glimpses
into the postwar lives of veterans. VERDICT An exquisitely detailed case study of one of the Confederacy's
worst military disasters. Highly recommended for Civil War and military historians, subject enthusiasts, and
all libraries.--John Carver Edwards, formerly with Univ. of Georgia Libs.
Hughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities Da Capo: Perseus. Sept. 2017.856p. illus. maps, notes,
bibliog. index. ISBN 9780306825842.
$40; ebk. ISBN 9780306825859. HIST
Author, filmmaker, and documentarian Hughes (Helen of Troy; The Hemlock Cup) demonstrates a
passionate and keen eye for detail in her newest book covering the history of Istanbul from its classical
origins to the modern era. Despite its heft and tendency to delve into so much nuance that even the diet of
Constantinople's citizens in the late 900s CE is shared, this work is eminently readable and thorough.
Hughes balances especially well a study of one city with the commentary of greater time periods and
historic events taking place simultaneously around the world; the rich, cultural, religious, and social
presence of Istanbul's complex tale lends itself as an excellent focus. VERDICT A timely work, given
current events, and a powerful testimony to Istanbul's impact on culture, society, and religion over time.
Historians and lay readers alike will find this a welcome addition.-Elizabeth Zeitz, Otterbeln Univ. Lib.,
Westerville, OH
Lovell, Mary S. The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society Pegasus. Sept.
2017.448p. photos, notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9781681775159. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681775791. HIST
This work embodies a place with personality and panache--the French Riviera, particularly the Chateau de
L'Horizon. Lovell (The Churchills: In Love and War, The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family) does a
fine job in providing the gossip without salaciousness in this well-researched volume that takes readers
from the villa's original builder, constructed in 1932 by architect Barry Dierks for actress and
businesswoman Maxine Elliott, to the glamour of its final resident, Italian Prince Aly Khan. Elliott's most
famous friend was British prime minister Winston Churchill, who came to the estate to paint and relax
during the interwar years. Later occupied during World War II by the Germans, its magic was revived under
Khan's ownership and instrumental in his wooing of his second wife, Rita Hayworth. Although an enjoyable
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read, this book does suffer from some uneven treatment. The sections describing Elliott and Churchill's
relationship and the biographical information about Khan are particularly strong; however, some details
seem unimportant in the context of the history. VERDICT Entertaining and well cited, this work best suits
audiences interested in the unknown stories of the jet-setters of the 1930s and 1950s and fans of the
Countess of Carnarvon's Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey.--Maria Bagshaw, Elgin Community
Coll. Lib., IL
* McCoy, Alfred W. In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power.
Haymarket. Sept. 2017.280p. illus. maps, notes, index. ISBN 9781608467730. pap. $18; ebk. ISBN
9781608467747. HIST
McCoy (history, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) has produced a sobering and insightful study of America's
rise to a global power after World War II. The author also examines recent trends to assess what the future
holds for American hegemony in the world; he is not optimistic. Using data from the National Intelligence
Council, McCoy explores the impact of economic slowdown or decline of American power as well as the
effects further military misadventures would have on the economy. The rise of China as a world power is
never far from McCoy's thoughts, and his assessment of that county's prominence and its burgeoning
military and economic might is something that will interest all readers. Other chapters explore such relevant
topics as surveillance, covert operations, and geopolitics as they relate to the rise and fall of the American
Empire. VERDICT An outstanding book on an exceedingly important topic. Essential for all collections.--
Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
* Miles, Tiya. Dawn of Detroit: A Chronicle of Bondage and Freedom in the City of the Straits New Pr.
Oct. 2017.288p. illus. maps, notes, index. ISBN 9781620972311. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781620972328. HIST
Historian Miles (Tales from the Haunted South) has written a book that will reorient the focus of early
slavery in North America Westward to include Detroit as central to any understanding of the tangled
relations of French, English, Euro-Americans, Indians, and Africans on the frontier from the 18th to early
19th century. She maintains that slavery was integral to the making of Detroit, as whites relied on enslaved
blacks and Native Americans to sustain the city's fur trade and commercial nexus, protect settlements during
war, and work nearby lands as settlers expanded their reach in the region. All the while, enslaved blacks
resisted their bondage, forging new identities and alliances as they moved or fled back and forth from
Detroit to British Canada. Detroit further embodied the contradictions of a nation professing liberty but
sanctioning slavery, even where it supposedly was prohibited, as in Michigan under the Northwest
Ordinance. Miles concludes that recognizing Detroit as a place of "theft" of human bodies and land is part
of a long, sustained history of exploitation that helps define the character of the city to this day. VERDICT
A necessary work of powerful, probing scholarship.--Randall M. Miller, St. Joseph's Univ., Philadelphia
Tyerman, Christopher. How To Plan a Crusade: Religious War in the High Middle Ages. Pegasus. Oct.
2017.432p. illus. maps, notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9781681775241. $28.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681775869.
HIST
Tyerman (God's War: A New History of the Crusades) looks at the logistical and planning activities of the
Crusades, arguing that the wars were not irrational follies of religious peasants but rather carefully planned
campaigns of moneyed individuals. He reframes his analysis of the events into five major areas, opening
with the idea that the medieval period contains many examples of rationality. He then discusses the reasons
Crusaders went to war and the culture which influenced the decision. Propaganda such as sermons,
pamphlets, and assemblies also played a key role in the recruitment of warriors. Tyerman analyzes the
standard types of recruits and shows that most were wealthy men, although some women attended.
Additionally, he evaluates the finances of the campaigns, including budgets and troop pay before
concluding the narrative with logistics surrounding supplies, ordinances, and campaign strategy. This
detailed analysis assumes prior knowledge of both the Holy Land and Baltic Crusades as well as key
figures. VERDICT An intriguing yet somewhat dry analysis of the Crusades. Recommended for scholars
and medieval history aficionados.--Rebekah Kati, Durham, NC
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LAW & CRIME
Blum, Ben. Ranger Games: A Story of Soldiers, Family and an Inexplicable Crime Doubleday. Sept.
2017.432p. notes. ISBN 9780385538435. $28.95; ebk. ISBN 9780385538442. CRIME
Blum's debut book sheds light on a romantic vision of war. In 2006, the author's 19-year-old cousin Alex
was a promising army ranger--until he participated in an armed robbery of a Bank of America along with
his superior Luke Elliott Sommer and three acquaintances. The underlying question for all involved: Why?
Was Alex the victim of brainwashing or a hoax? Blum follows Alex's attempts to rebuild his life after losing
friends, housing, and work because of his felony status. He interviews numerous relatives, such as Alex's
dad, Norm, who supported his son even as his own marriage crumbled. Blum also questions Sommer, who
experienced PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The
author successfully interweaves his own family's complicated relationship with mental illness, race, and
privilege into the recounting of Sommer's psychiatric history. After finding inconsistencies in Alex's and
Sommer's stories, Blum isn't sure of his own truth and doesn't expect readers to be either. VERDICT A
detailed, sobering account of people doing what they believe is right in the face of injustice. For fans of
biographies, military stories, true crime, and podcasts such as Serial and S-Town.--Stephanie Sendaula,
Library Journal
Corona, Martin with Tony Rafael. Confessions of a Cartel Hit Man. Dutton. Jul. 2017. 320p. ISBN
9781101984628. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781101984642. CRIME
Cartel hit man--turned--government informant Corona, with writer Rafael (coauthor, The Mexican Mafia),
tells of how he got involved in a life of drugs and crime at an early age. From a military family, Corona
grew up playing Little League and fishing but somehow he felt he didn't belong. He was more at home on
the street than anywhere else and spent most of his childhood and teenage years in corrections programs.
Through the connections he made in prison and in gangs, he eventually went to work for the founders of the
Tijuana drug cartel that dominated the Southern California drug trade for decades. Corona often ended up in
situations where he would need to kill members of warring gangs. Life was luxurious but so violent that
eventually he wanted out. In this highly detailed, tell-all work, readers can follow the author on his real-life
journey from military brat to gang leader to informant. VERDICT Corona's engaging story offers an
insider's peek into gang and prison life, providing insight into how a seemingly average boy can become a
drug kingpin and a murderer. Recommended for true crime lovers.--Kristen Calvert, Marion Cty. P.L. Syst.,
Ocala, FL
James, Bill & Rachel McCarthy James. The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer
Mystery. Scribner. Aug. 2017.480p. notes. ISBN 9781476796253. $30; ebk. ISBN 9781476796277.
CRIME
In early 20th-century America, an unknown man traversed the country, mainly the South and Midwest,
riding the rails. He would hop off the train, usually near a small town, locate a secluded house near the
tracks, and brutally murder the occupants with the blunt side of an axe. Before any alarms could be raised,
he would disappear onto another train to strike elsewhere. Popular sportswriter Bill James (Popular Crime)
and his daughter, writer Rachel McCarthy James, painstakingly scoured thousands of newspapers and
records to piece together the bloody trail of the titular Man from the Train. Using the infamous 1912 murder
of the Moore family in Villisca, IA, as a starting point, the authors worked backward locating one, then
another, crime that seemed to fit together. Eventually, they settled upon a suspect. Although the
circumstantial evidence for their suspect is less than desirable, they may have indeed solved this century-old
case. VERDICT Fans of historical true crime will enjoy the conversational and fast-paced writing about
these unsolved murders and an early 20th-century serial murderer.--Chad E. Statler, Lakeland Comm. Coll.,
Kirtland, OH
Kahn, Milka & Anne Veron. Women of Honor: Madonnas, Godmothers and Informers in the Italian Mafia.
Hurst. Sept. 2017.192p. tr. from French by James Ferguson, notes, index. ISBN 9781849048064. pap.
$19.95. CRIME
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European law specialist Kahn and mafia documentarian Veron here present a well-researched look at the
women who helped to build and maintain Italian Mafia culture. Kahn, who became familiar with the topic
while volunteering with Libera Palermo, an anti-Mafia organization, teamed with Veron, who has directed
documentaries on the Italian mobs, to showcase women involved in Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, and
Camorra. Although women are not commonly included in discourse concerning these groups, the authors'
research and interviews depict how these figures continue to be at the center of these organizations, even
helping to ensure its survival by instilling the culture and values of the group into their children. The stories
presented paint a complex portrait of these women, moving them past the victim stereotype, and opening up
a world of information that has been under a veil of silence for many years. VERDICT This book provides
a fascinating window into the lives of women at the heart of Mafia organizations. Recommended for
collections where related titles circulate widely.--Mattie Cook, Lake Odessa Comm. Lib., Ml
PSYCHOLOGY
* Rubin, Gretchen. The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How To Make
Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too). Harmony: Crown. Sept. 2017.272p. notes. ISBN
9781524760915. $24; ebk. ISBN 9781524760922. PSYCH
Rubin (The Happiness Project; Better Than Before) here expands on an idea she began exploring in her
earlier books, that you gain tremendous self-knowledge by examining how you respond to expectations
(both internal and external). Obliges, for instance, respond well to outer expectations but have trouble
meeting inner ones. Therefore, people with that tendency benefit from having an exercise partner or
building other accountability checks into their routines. After discussion of the different tendencies and why
it's helpful to understand them, Rubin explains--with a quiz--how to figure out your tendency and that of
others, how to understand and work with people whose tendencies are different from your own, and how to
harness strengths in order to accomplish goals. It's a clever system, charmingly and convincingly explained.
VERDICT This will be of particular interest to those responsible for motivating others (e.g., managers or
parents) but also enjoyed by anyone fascinated by human nature. (See the Q&A with the author on p. 107).-
-Stephanie Klose, Library Journal
* Sigman, Mariano. The Secret Life of the Mind: How Your Brain Thinks, Feels, and Decides Little,
Brown. Jun. 2017. 256p. tr. from Spanish by the author, illus. notes. ISBN 9780316549622. $27; ebk. ISBN
9780316549615. PSYCH
Physicist and neuroscientist Sigman (founder, Integrative Neuroscience Laboratory, Univ. of Buenos Aires,
Argentina) here builds on his popular TED Talk "Your Words May Predict Your Future Mental Health." His
goal is to help readers understand themselves more deeply. Ideas, dreams, emotions from childhood,
consciousness, and learning are major themes in this guide to self-knowledge. The human brain has
changed little in 60,000 years. At six months infants theorize and form abstract concepts, making
discoveries through play and logic, similar to scientific method. They can infer intentions, desires, kindness
and wrongdoing. Two year olds comprehend ownership, and with this text, adults can appreciate their
thinking and judgment. Currently, most children engage with more than one language--a mental boon for
attention, cognitive development, and social inclusion. Sigman's text alludes to ideas from Jean-Jacques
Rousseau's Emile and celebrates the work of cognitive psychologist Jacques Mehler. VERDICT Accessible,
enjoyable, and enriching, this work is a boon to lay readers, students, and scientists.--E. James Lieberman,
George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
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SOCIAL SCIENCE
Briody, Blaire. The New Wild West: Black Gold, Fracking, and Life in a North Dakota Boomtown. St.
Martin's. Sept. 2017. 352p. notes. ISBN 9781250064929. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466871526. SOC SCI
In the fracking boomtown of Williston, ND, gas flares lighting the night can signal wealth to some, the
destruction of ancestral lands to others, or another night of homelessness to a few operating the wells. In the
penetrating spirit of TV's This Is Life with Lisa Ling, with the depth and insight only a book can provide,
Briody delves into the lives of those trying to survive in a town in rapid transition by aiming to understand
why some choose to work in the destructive industry, what it takes to survive as a woman in a maledominated
town, the difficulties faced by a preacher trying to help those in need, how Native peoples are
being deceived by the government, and the history that led to the current struggles of long-term residents.
Through intertwining disparate experiences, a comprehensive portrait is unveiled. As the boom goes bust
everything else tragically follows: marriages, people, finances, the environment, and some international
corporations. VERDICT Those on both sides of the debate on fossil fuels and fracking will find this work
revealing, as will readers seeking a wider picture of the economic downturn.--Zebulin Evelhoch, Central
Washington Univ. Lib., Ellensburg, WA
Forner, Karlyn Denae. Why the Vote Wasn't Enough for Selma. Duke Univ. Oct. 2017.368p. illus. maps,
notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9780822370000. $99.95; pap. ISBN 9780822370055. $27.95. HIST
In this aptly titled work, Forner (project manager. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Digital
Gateway, Duke Univ. Libs.) tells the history of the city of Selma and several counties in the Black Belt
region of Alabama, including Dallas County, where Selma is located. After moving to the city, Forner
learned its history firsthand. Here, the author sets the stage for the creation of the 1901 Alabama
Constitution, which was designed to help maintain white supremacy. Later she explores Selma during the
time of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the arrival of Martin Luther King Jr., and the passage of the Voting
Rights Act in 1965. By this time, the local black community was already engaged, creating a new black law
firm in 1972. After 25 years, they finally achieved political equality but faced a worsening economic
situation, especially with the closing of a local Air Force base. VERDICT Though the general contours of
this story are well known, Forner presents an exhaustive social, political, and economic history of Selma set
within local and national context. A near page-turner that will appeal to both general and scholarly readers
interested in the civil rights movement.--William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
* Gilyard, Keith. Louise Thompson Patterson: A Life of Struggle tor Justice.
Duke Univ. Sept. 2017.320p. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9780822369851. $94.95; pap. ISBN
9780822369929. $26.95. BIOG
In this fascinating biography, Gilyard (Edwin Erie Sparks Professor of English and African American
Studies, Pennsylvania State Univ.; True to the Language Game) portrays civil and human rights advocate
Louise Thompson Patterson (1901-99). Born in Chicago, Patterson faced a lonely childhood, moving
frequently with her family, who were often the sole black residents wherever they lived. As a college
student studying economics at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1920s, she found a mentor in
W.E.B. DuBois, while also realizing that black students were often unacknowledged. After college, she
taught at the Hampton Institute but found herself discomforted by its racism and paternalism. A move to
Harlem led her to writers such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and future husband Wallace
Thurman. Gilyard spends much of the book examining Patterson's deep involvement with the literary
movements of the time and recounting her work on civil rights. In the 1930s, Patterson led a rally in
Washington, DC, to attract attention to the Scottsboro Boys case. VERDICT An important book in helping
to understand the persistent racism faced by African Americans in this country and what individuals can do
to help fight against the injustice.--Amy Lewontin, Northeastern Univ. Lib., Boston
* Johnson, Joan Marie. Funding Feminism: Monied Women, Philanthropy, and the Women's Movement,
1870-1967. Univ. of North Carolina. Oct. 2017.320p. illus. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9781469634692.
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$39.95; ebk. ISBN 9781469634708. SOC SCI
Historian Johnson's (Northwestern Univ.) first book examines the role that wealthy white women have
played in advancing women's rights through financial support for feminist causes. Across seven thematic,
roughly chronological chapters, the author examines a century of female philanthropy in the areas of
suffrage, labor, education, and birth control, persuasively arguing that donors with deep pockets persistently
shaped the priorities and successes of organized feminism. Women such as Alva Belmont, Katherine
McCormick, Mary Garrett, and Grace Dodge funded office space and paid positions in the suffrage
movement, established working women's clubs, built living quarters for female students, and funded
decades of research that brought us the birth control pill. Throughout, Johnson highlights the uneasy reality
that such contributions--often crucial to movement successes--gave these women disproportionate influence
among activists who were fighting for greater equality. Thus, feminist philanthropists often became
controversial figures within the movement they helped to support. VERDICT This compelling work of
original and much-needed research with be of interest not only to those who study the history of feminist
activism but to those with an interest in the power that private money wields in social justice circles.--Anna
J. Clutterbuck-Cook, Massachusetts Historical Soc.
* We Wear the Mask: 15 True Stories of Passing in America.
Beacon. Oct. 2017.224p. ed. by Brando Skyhorse & Lisa Page, notes. ISBN 9780807078983. pap. $18; ebk.
ISBN 9780807078990. SOC SCI
The act of passing, and its many permutations, is the subject of 15 superb essays in this collection edited by
Skyhorse (English, Indiana Univ.; Take This Man: A Memoir) and Page (English, George Washington
Univ.). Beginning with Skyhorse's description of his experiences passing as Native American at the
insistence of his mother, contributors explore the circumstances--some intentional, others accidental---that
led them to pass as a member of another race, religion, sexuality, or class. The authors come to various
conclusions about the nature of the act of passing, as well as its impact upon the individual and society as a
whole. Contributor Marc Fitten discusses the decontextualization inherent to passing, while Clarence Page
recognizes class passing as something akin to an American tradition. There is value to be found in each
essay, but particular highlights include author Rafia Zakaria's description of the acts of passing required to
get through airport security as a Muslim American, while writer Gabrielle Bellot, in a beautiful essay about
passing as a cisgender woman, emphasizes how transgender individuals use passing as a means to be
recognized as their true, authentic selves. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in
American sociological issues and current events.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS
TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY
Meyer, Michael. The Road to Sleeping Dragon: Learning China from the Ground Up. Bloomsbury Pr. Oct.
2017.320p. notes. ISBN 9781632869357. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781632869371. TRAV
Former Peace Corps volunteer Meyer (The Last Days of Old Beijing) continues to present his fascinating
and worthwhile impressions of China. He explains that, unlike his first book, this latest work is mostly
chronological impressions of lessons learned over time. Readers have an additional treat here in that Meyer
shares his charming and challenging courtship of Frances, his wife whom he met while living in China.
Frances's story brings further depth and insights to Meyer's observations and experiences of the country. For
example, her mother used to tell her to finish what was on her plate because there were starving people in
America. Meyer's comments are priceless; when his apartment was as cold as an icebox, he reported, "I
called Frances and asked her how to turn on the radiator. She laughed. 'You can't. Beijing turns it on for
you.'" VERDICT Those planning an actual trip to China as well as armchair travelers will be enlightened
and entertained by this exceptional book.--Susan G. Baird, formerly with Oak Lawn P.L., IL
* Twigger, Robert. White Mountain: A Cultural Adventure Through the Himalayas.
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Pegasus. Oct. 2017.472p. maps, bibliog. index. ISBN 9781681775357. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681775937.
TRAV
The story should have been simple: author (Red Nile; Angry White Pyjamas) and adventurer Twigger
decides to travel along the Himalayas looking for what makes these mountains in Asia so special or
magical. But as one finds with the best travel writers, some questions are not easily answered. While mainly
in India, Twigger tries to understand the Himalayas from their history, geography, religions, myths, and
people--those living and historical (from Alexandra David-Neel and Francis Younghusband to Edmund
Hillary and His Holiness the Dalai Lama) that seem to haunt this landscape playing their Great Game or
trying to climb a mountain. Yet readers also find stories of missing nuclear batteries, yetis, and the author's
own search for his family history, all of which makes for a wonderful voyage. VERDICT This is an
enchanting book that readers will not be able to put down, and when they are finished they will ask why it
wasn't longer. Will be of great interest to those looking for books on travel, history, and culture of the
Himalayas, India, and the region. Highly recommended.--Melissa Aho, Univ. of Minnesota Bio-Medical
Lib., Minneapolis
Codebreakers
Fagone, Jason. The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine
Who Outwitted America's Enemies. Harper. Sept. 2017.320p. notes. ISBN 9780062430489. $27.99; ebk.
ISBN 9780062430502. BIOG
Two forces set Elizebeth Friedman on the path to success: her love of literature and her fear of being
ordinary. The first led her to the Newberry Library in Chicago to see a rare copy of William Shakespeare's
First Folio. There, a librarian introduced her to a rich, eccentric stranger named George Fabayan. Against
her sound judgment, Friedman accepted an unusual assignment at Fabayan's laboratory of decrypting
Shakespeare's works. Friedman met her husband, William, at the laboratory and they eventually became two
of the world's top cryptologists. William and Elizebeth solved some of the toughest crimes and military
intelligence challenges of the 20th century. Fagone, editor for the Huffington Post Highline, records the
pair's accomplishments, trials, and love affair, taking care to ensure that Elizebeth finally receives the
recognition she deserves. The impressive endnotes will prove useful to researchers who wish to further
explore the contributions of female codebreakers. VERDICT Fans of Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden
Figures and Andrew Hodges's Alan Turing: The Enigma will enjoy this carefully researched story of a smart
and loyal but overlooked woman. [See Preput Alert, 1/23/17.1--Beth Dalton, Littleton, CO
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
* Mundy, Liza. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II.
Hachette. Oct. 2017.
432p. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316352536. $28; ebk. ISBN 9780316352550. HIST
Mundy (The Richer Sex) provides a history of female crytographers during World War II. At the outset of
the war, cryptanalysis, the science of deciphering coded messages, had barely emerged and both allies and
foes outpaced the United States. With young men galvanized to serve overseas, women were actively
recruited on the home front. Initially, this effort focused on students from the Seven Sisters colleges but
eventually expanded to include women from across the country who demonstrated an aptitude for math and
discretion. These women were ensconced at Arlington Hall, a former girls' school in Virginia, which
became the headquarters of the U.S. Army's Signal Intelligence Service (SIS). Codebreaking was
excruciatingly complex work and had urgent consequences. Enemy movements were ascertained and ships
sunk based on information relayed over the wires. The women were sworn to secrecy about the nature and
gravity of their work and for years remained reticent to speak about it, even to family members. Mundy
teases out their stories based on extensive interviews with the surviving codebreakers. VERDICT Similar to
Nathalia Holt's The Rise of the Rocket Girls and Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures, this is
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indispensable and fascinating history. Highly recommended for all readers.--Barrie Olmstead, Sacramento
P.L.
professional media
* LeMire, Sarah & Kristen J. Mulvihill.
Serving Those Who Served: Librarian's Guide to Working with Veteran and Military Communities.
Libraries Unlimited. Feb. 2017.181p. index.
ISBN 9781440834325. pap. $55. PRO MEDIA
With more than a million individuals serving in the active military and 20 million veterans in this country,
librarians must recognize the information needs of these populations. LeMire (librarian, Texas A&M Univ.)
and Mulvihill (librarian, San Diego P.L.) have created a guide to help librarians engage and work with
veterans, service members, and military organizations in their community. Both of the authors are veterans;
they dispel myths about individuals who have served and answer questions about how librarians should
interact with veteran and military personnel. Public and academic librarians are the prime audience, but the
authors briefly highlight the role of school, health, law, and prison libraries. Whether an individual served in
peacetime or in combat, the varied experiences of veterans will impact the type of information they need,
such as military records and medical information. In addition, the authors provide useful examples of
successful outreach and programs along with suggested resources and organizations to refer military
personnel and veterans. VERDICT Highly recommended for all librarians, especially those serving large
populations of service members and veterans.--Chris Wilkes, Tazewell Cty. P.L., VA
Reale, Michelle.
Becoming a Reflective Librarian and Teacher: Strategies for Mindful Academic Practice. ALA. Jan.
2017.144p. index. ISBN 9780838915295. pap. $57. PRO MEDIA
Beginning with the premise that teachers, and especially librarians, can benefit by incorporating reflection
into their daily practices, Reale (access svcs. and outreach librarian, Arcadia Univ.) makes the case that
reflection is the basis of critical pedagogy. A quote by educator and philosopher Maxine Greene
summarizes the book: "Without the ability to think about yourself, to reflect on your life, there's really no
aware ness, no consciousness...." The focus is on engaging in reflective learning and modeling that behavior
for our students. Reale outlines three processes of reflective practice: "making the time for reflection,
becoming a perpetual problem-solver, and questioning the status quo." Chapters include using journals in
reflection, the cycle of contemplation, and strategies to model and promote in the classroom. The "final
thoughts" section and list of strategies that end each chapter provide helpful tools on ways to implement the
techniques offered throughout. VERDICT Recommended for teachers and librarians as an impetus to lead a
more reflective professional life.--Karen Venturella Malnati, Union Cty. Coll. Libs, Cranford, NJ
Reed, Sally Gardner, he Good, the Great, and the Unfriendly: A Librarian's
Guide to Working with Friends Groups. ALA Editions. Jan. 2017.157p. illus. index. ISBN 9780838914984.
pap. $57. PRO MEDIA
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
This slim handbook by Reed (executive director, United for Libraries; coauthor, The Complete Library
Trustee Handbook) expands upon and updates her 2004 work, 101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends.
The question of why Friends of libraries are needed is addressed--the Internet has not made these
institutions obsolete, the author points out, and libraries are often the only access for digital "have-nots."
The nitty-gritty of working with Friends includes filing for tax exempt status, merging a group with a
foundation, and working with volunteers. Friends groups supporting academic libraries, often overlooked,
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are given their share of attention. Friends of a library can fundraise, provide outreach, support
programming, engage the community, and advocate for maintaining and increasing budgets. How to
connect with new and younger Friends and volunteers is covered, although the use of social media could
have been given more attention. Advice for how a library can divorce from a Friends group when things go
bad provides guidance through a sticky situation, but a few in-depth examples would have been valuable. A
chapter of fundraising and programming ideas rounds out the book. VERDICT Librarians and trustees
interested in developing a library Friends group will find straightforward, practical advice in this guide.--
Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., Wl
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Social sciences." Library Journal, 1 Aug. 2017, p. 101+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500009446/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7ca88f3c.
Accessed 25 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A500009446

"McNickle , Chris: BLOOMBERG." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498344966/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Mar. 2018. "Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition." Publishers Weekly, 12 June 2017, p. 51+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A495720696/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Mar. 2018. "To Be Mayor of New York: Ethnic Succession in New York City." Publishers Weekly, 22 Feb. 1993, p. 78. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A13545413/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Mar. 2018. "Social sciences." Library Journal, 1 Aug. 2017, p. 101+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500009446/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Mar. 2018.

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